Ethics in Sport

• Harassment-free Sport Strategy
• Education and Training
• Play By The Rules
• ACT Human Rights Commission
• ACT Office for Children, Youth and Family Support

Every participant in sport, whether they are players, coaches, officials or spectators, has a right to be treated with respect, dignity and fairness, and to participate in an environment that is enjoyable and safe. Harassment, abuse and other forms of inappropriate behaviour in sport deny participants these rights.

Harassment-free Sport Strategy

The Harassment-free Sport (HFS) Strategy is the Australian Sports Commission’s (ASCs) key initiative in addressing discrimination, harassment and abuse issues in sport. The HFS Strategy aims to assist sport and recreation clubs and associations to create safe, respectful and harassment free environments.

The strategy consists of:

• education - training courses and workshops
• member protection and child protection information
• policies and resources
• a mandatory requirement for national sporting organisations funded by the Australian Government to develop and implement a policy that addresses harassment, discrimination and child abuse
• information and free online training modules on harassment and discrimination from the Play by the Rules website
• summaries and links to research on harassment and discrimination.

Sport and Recreation Services (SRS) is responsible for the delivery of the HFS Strategy in the ACT.

HFS Training and Education

• Member Protection Information Officer
  The Member Protection Information Officer (MPIO) is the first point of call in a club, state or national sporting organisation for any queries, complaints or concerns around harassment, discrimination and child abuse in sport. They provide confidential information, moral support and options to help resolve the issue. The MPIO course will increase understanding of harassment, discrimination and child abuse in sport while providing practical skills that will assist anyone taking on the role of MPIO.

MPIO Course 2011 Information Sheet( PDF 17.3KB)

• Harassment-free Sport Overview
  This three hour workshop provides a brief look at harassment and child abuse allegations, the harassment-free sport strategy and member protection, rights and obligations, adopting a preventative approach, resolving complaints, and useful resources. It is aimed at people within sport interested in obtaining a basic understanding of harassment free sport principles including CEOs, board and committee members and people with responsibility for risk management.
  
• Member Protection Management Briefing
  This three hour workshop provides information on member protection, discrimination, harassment and child abuse, sport and the law, obligations of sporting organisations and adopting a preventative approach. It is aimed at decision-making positions at state and national level including presidents, CEOs, directors and managers.

Sport and Recreation Services delivers HFS Training and Education courses on a regular basis throughout the year, please refer to the Education and Training Calendar for upcoming dates.

Play by the Rules

Play by the Rules is a free online learning and information resource addressing harassment, discrimination and child protection for the sport and recreation industry. It provides information and resources on how to prevent and deal with discrimination, harassment and child abuse, and how to develop inclusive and welcoming environments for participation.

Play by the Rules provides up to date information on current issues facing the industry, interactive scenarios, free on-line training courses, guidelines and free resources.

Play by the Rules is a unique partnership between the Australian Sports Commission, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, all state and territory sport and recreation and anti-discrimination agencies and the Queensland Commission for Children, Young People and Child Guardian.

For more information visit http://www.playbytherules.net.au/ 

Fair and Safe Behaviour in Sport and Recreation in the ACT: Flyer ( PDF 478Kb)

Fair and Safe Behaviour in Sport and Recreation in the ACT: Brochure ( PDF 945Kb)

ACT Human Rights Commission

The ACT Human Rights Commission (HRC) delivers a range of training seminars and workshops to assist individuals working in various environments to gain a better understanding of discrimination and human rights. Workshops are facilitated by the HRC Community Education and Engagement Team comprising of trained educators and lawyers.

For more information visit the ACT Human Rights Commission http://www.hrc.act.gov.au/content.php/category.view/id/16 

ACT Office for Children, Youth and Family Support

The Office for Children, Youth and Family Support is an administrative unit of the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services. The office works in partnership with the community to provide care and protection services to children and young people, and family and community support to meet the needs of the people of Canberra.
If you are concerned about a child or would like further information on child abuse and neglect, reporting requirements, making a report or responding to a disclosure of abuse visit http://www.dhcs.act.gov.au/ocyfs 

DHCS Keeping Children and Young People Safe Brochure ( PDF 2Mb)

Links

ASC Ethics in Sport http://www.ausport.gov.au/supporting/ethics 
Play by the Rules http://www.playbytherules.net.au/ 
ACT Human Rights Commission http://www.hrc.act.gov.au/ 
ACT Office for Children, Youth and Family Support http://www.dhcs.act.gov.au/ocyfs/ 

*** Documents on this page are presented in Portable Document Format (PDF) and a PDF reader is required for viewing. If you encounter problems viewing these files please contact Sport and Recreation Services on 6207 2111 for an alternative version.